It is looking to me like a very good hatch this spring. I have been seeing more poults than I have ever seen. Just down the road from me I have been regularly seeing 3 hens with at least 20 poults. Usually they are running around so much I can't get a good count. Maybe I a just seeing more cause the farmers got all there first cuttings of hay off earlier than normal. Don't know for sure but I like what I am seeing. How about the rest of you, seeing a lot of poults?

ticklishtompro wrote:I have been seeing more poults than I have ever seen.

Same here. The other striking thing is the wide range in size of the poults; from baseball to volleyball size. Not only does it appear the turkeys have had a good hatch but all the other game birds, grouse, pheasant, woodcock, partridge; it is going to be a great hunt this fall. Assuming the July rains don't wash them all away. I'm seeing the birds in the woods, swamps and thickets; none to speak of in any of the fields. This may be because of all the eagles, hawks & owls in this area and they are doing a little too well also.According to the WDNR grouse drumming counts were down this spring, if interested I posted the WDNR press release in its entirety on my personal site here http://www.charlieelk.com/?p=235

later, charlie If you agree with me call it fact; if you disagree - call it my opinion. After all - we are talking turkey.

I'd have to disagree with the drumming counts being down at least in the central part of the state. I heard more grouse this year than I did turkeys. When we had the T&TH hunt we had grouse drumming every place we hunted, morning, noon and night. I would have figured the count would of been up some from last year?

We heard a lot of drumming grouse in SE MN this spring as well. I was working down there last week and saw 3 separate broods of 10-12 young grouse apiece. This in an area where I've never seen a grouse before....Also heard a few gobbles, 1 in a place that was quiet as a tomb during our hunt

yes i as well will have to dis agree with the ruffed grouse drum n counts being down at least in SW WI & NW WI & SE MN for that matter i herd more ruffed grouse then ever in the spring turkey woods... also seen & herd plenty of pheasants as well... hope the turkeys do well also... lets hope the rains are not to much for the small birds to handle

yes pheasants & turkeys go hand in hand for me... i think every place i hunt turkeys i hear pheasants crowing & druming there wings in the morning!!! its great i think its because i love to hunt near & around crop fields CRP/prairie type grass & wood edges i commonly here prairie grouse booming in the mornings also wear i hunt & bob white quail also... the spring turkey woods is a beautiful place to spend a morning!!!